Appendix C: Risk Assessment Form

Appendix C: Environment Room risk assessment

ENVIRONMENT CENTRE SPECIFIC ASSESSMENT OF PROPOSED EXPERIMENT

Section: School of the Environment (Aerosol Laboratory) Location: Physics Barn Personnel involved: (inc. Status) Prof. Michael Smith

Dr. Andrea Jackson Dr. Justin Lingard Title of Experiment/procedure: Operation of Environmental Chamber/Room (WIR 19-60HS) and zero air generator to simulate a range of temperature and/or humidity conditions.

Chemical substances Hazard Safety Precautions Water Non-hazardous Non-required Information Sources: Oxford MSDS.

Are less hazardous substances available? No If so, why not use them? N/A Disposal procedures during and at end of experiment: Water is allowed to drain into the mains drainage. Special emergency/spillage/first aid procedures: Do not keep electrical connections on the ground. Turn off water supply, mop-up water and dispose of to mains.

Compressed Gases Hazard Safety Precautions Compressed air Non-toxic, non-flammable Wear safety glasses compressed gas. when accessing Supports combustion. compression equipment. Do not locate readily combustible material in close proximity to the generator.

135 Appendix C: Environment Room risk assessment

Information sources: Aldrich catalogue. Air products special gases division safety recommendations. Are less hazardous substances available? No If so, why not use them? N/A Control measures/Checks/Monitoring required: Regular inspection of compressing equipment. Disposal procedures during and at end of experiment: Gas may be vented to the atmosphere. Special emergency/spillage/first aid procedures: Turn-off compressor. Other hazards: ELECTRICAL: Live voltages exposed when chamber panels removed.

PRESSURE: High pressures contained with compressing equipment.

HEAT: Compressing equipment generates heat during operation. The ambient temperature within the experimental part of the chamber can be varied from –60 to +50ºC, both during and post-operation.

FANS: Active fans accessible inside the chamber and the compressing equipment.

NOISE: High noise levels can be experienced during venting of the compression equipment.

CLIMBING: Work on top of the chamber is 2.5 metres above floor level.

DROWNING: High humidity conditions within the tank present a drowning hazard.

Other hazards include:

UNEXPECTED RESTART OF SYSTEM AFTER SHUTDOWN

TRAPPING OF USERS IN ROOM

POWER FAILURE

FIRE IN PLANT ROOM Safety precautions: OPERATION OF THE CHAMBER: ENTRY TO THE CHAMBER IS RESTRICTED TO TRAINED PERSONNEL ONLY. A ‘BUDDY’ SYSTEM MUST BE OPERATED IF OPERATING THE CHAMBER AT EXTREME TEMPERATURES (HOT OR COLD). THUS, AN ADDITIONAL PERSON SHOULD BE PRESENT ON SITE AND SITUATED OUTSIDE THE CHAMBER, TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE/SUPPORT IN THE

EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT.

ELECTRICAL: Instrument to be operated by trained personnel only. Operators must have knowledge of the location of exposed electrical connections.

PRESSURE: Instrument to be operated by trained personnel only.

HEAT: Due to the extremes in temperature, all personnel must hear appropriate protection when working at extreme temperatures. Pumps must be allowed to cool before touching. Never attempt to touch pumps during operation.

FANS: Hands, or other objects, must be kept away from fans whilst they are operating.

NOISE: Wear ear protection when the pumps are running.

CLIMBING: The roof of the chamber to be accessed by trained personnel only. Under normal circumstances this will limited to routine, periodic maintenance. A hard hat must be worn. Secure climbing equipment such as harnesses must be used at heights >2 metres. Second person must be present on site in the case of an accident.

DROWNING: Access to chamber to chamber limited to trained personnel only. Second person must be present on site in the case of an accident. THIS IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT WHEN RUNNING FOR SUSTAINED PERIODS AT HIGH HUMIDITY CONDITIONS.

UNEXPECTED RESTART OF SYSTEM AFTER SHUTDOWN: The system is prohibited from automatic restart after shutdown.

TRAPPING OF USERS IN ROOM: The personnel door is provided with an internal release mechanism, allowing door to be opened from the inside. A chain-pull mechanism in main body of chamber provides the main means by which to draw attention to the plight of personnel within the chamber. Pulling the chain-pull mechanism activates the alarm system, causing activation of two sets of emergency alarm systems. Firstly, within the room, both audible and visible alarms will sound. The audible alarm will sound both inside and outside the room. A flashing, red beacon will be activated, providing a highly visible alarm.

On activation of the emergency alarm system, a second, subsequent alarm system will be activated in the office of the University security service. This consists of an audible alarm, alerting security to the emergency.

In addition the emergency stop can be activated as detailed below.

EMERGENCY STOP – In addition to the chain-pull mechanism in main body of chamber, there are two emergency stop buttons: (1) located on the RHS, inside the main personnel door; and, (2) located on the outside of the chamber located near the control panel.

POWER FAILURE: Luminescent signs over personnel door. Emergency exit sign and light plant emergency exit.

FIRE IN PLANT ROOM: Emergency kick-out panel provided in addition to emergency exit door. Emergency/first aid procedures: ELECTRICAL: Turn-off electricity supply and isolate the power. Remove casualty with the electrical source using a non-conductive material(s). DO NOT TOUCH casualty with your hands, unless you are CERTAIN there is no further risk. SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY. Contact security on ext. 32222.

PRESSURE: Turn off electrical supply, in the event of an accident, seek medical attention as injury warrants.

HEAT: In the case of a burn apply large amounts of clean water to the area of the burn. DO NOT COVER. SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY. In the event of an accident with the chamber, remove casualty from the chamber, SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY.

FANS: In the event of an accident, seek medical attention as required.

NOISE: Turn-off the equipment, move casualty to a quiet area.

CLIMBING/FALL: In the event of a fall SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY. DO NOT move casualty. Await competent medical assistance.

DROWNING: In the event of an accident, turn off chamber by hitting the EMERGENCY STOP BUTTON. Remove casualty from the chamber. Leave door open to allow humid air to vent and to permit a rapid escape. Resuscitation may be necessary. SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY.